HIGHLIGHTS

ABOUT DHA CITY KARACHI

Defence Housing Authority City Karachi (DCK), as per its website, is “the first sustainable, smart and green city of Pakistan.”

Located on the outskirts of Karachi, on Super Highway, it is 56 km away from the main city. The project comes under the administration of DHA Karachi. It is an under-construction housing society that spans about 20,000 acres of land and plans to accommodate around 1 million people in Karachi. DHA City envisions to meet the ever-growing challenges pertaining to housing in Karachi and has, therefore, developed a sustainable plan for the distribution of water and energy, transportation and waste management.

When you enter DHA City, you see a beautiful entrance, which has now become an important landmark of Karachi. The Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway, aka M-9, is only 2.1 km away from the main gate.

Malir Motorway is a project that has been approved by Sindh Government and City District Government Karachi (CDGK). It will be one of the main arteries connecting DHA City to the eastern side of the city. As of January 2019, it is expected that DHA City will be constructed on the banks of Malir River, providing strategic links to Super Highway, and opening new vistas for more business and other economic activities in the area. Once Malir Motorway is built, it will not only reduce the travel time between DCK and DHA — typically an hour-long journey — to 20 minutes but also save fuel costs. This has further piqued the interest of investors in plots available for sale in DHA City.

The construction work started off in the year 2012 and has been going on at a fast pace. DCK is divided into a mixed-use sub-district, multi-unit housing zone, culture and art sub-district, university complexes, a sports hub, healthcare city, central business district and mall zones. It has been divided into 16 sectors.

AT A GLANCE

First sustainable, green and smart city of Pakistan

State-of-the-art solar energy park

Mixed-use land creates open spaces and provides accessibility to shops, markets and healthcare facilities

“Knowledge Park” will comprise notable educational institutions

Sector 3, DCK, has been developed and is functional

NEIGHBOURHOOD

FACILITIES, SCHOOLS AND HEALTHCARE

Public Transport in DHA City Karachi

A systematized transportation network has been mapped out to assist residents. There are two main roads running through DCK, also connecting to M-9 motorway. The Malir River Expressway will reduce the commute time from the city to DCK. Residential areas are designed in such a way that residents have access to everyday necessities within walking distance. The DCK Transportation Plan includes a number of road networks with major intersections, service roads and roundabouts. The society’s massive transportation plan comprises trams, modern buses, many pedestrian bridges and expansive parking lots. The Karachi Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) has been stretched to DHA City. In addition, residents of this area will benefit from the Blue-Line of the KBRT System, which will provide a link to the main city from DCK. A DCK Interchange project is also underway that will link the northern and southern sides of the society.

Markets in DHA City Karachi

For the convenience and comfort of residents, developers have planned several supermarkets and stores in the area. The best part is these shops will be located near housing units so people do not have to travel to other parts of the society to buy groceries, for instance. According to DHA City Karachi’s map, for a neighbourhood of 250 families, a 400-yard market space has been allocated. Outside DHA City, there is Ideal supermarket and Shaheen superstore in Gulshan-e-Hadeed, which is another famous neighbourhood of the city, located at a 50-minute drive.

Mosques in DHA City Karachi

Developers plan to construct a grand mosque in DHA City, Karachi. It will house around 1000 worshippers at a time. The mosque will have an efficient ventilation system, a cold storage room, mortuary, toilets and an area for ablution. Sky-lights will be installed in almost all important areas of the building. Its designers have taken inspiration from traditional Islamic architecture. Apart from Jamia Masjid, there are several other mosques located in every sector and sub-sector of DCK.

Schools, Colleges AND Universities in DHA City Karachi

There is a dedicated Knowledge Park district in DHA City that, according to the society’s website, will be “an epitome of your enlightenment.” The project aims to provide world-class educational facilities for its future residents. There are a kindergarten and a junior school in Sector 3 that are operational. The City School will also open its branches in Sector 3 of this society. More than 60 schools are expected to be built in this part of the city. DCK Suffa University and DCK College are also included in the layout plan. A MoU has also been signed between DCK and Institute of Business Administration and Dow University of Health Sciences.

Banks in DHA City Karachi

DHA City, Karachi is calling auction bids for commercial plots in Sector 3. A limited number of 300 sq. yd. commercial plots are being offered at prices lower than the market rates. There is a Dubai Islamic Bank in DCK. As developments speed up, more banks will be operational in the near future.

Electricity Backup

A 300-watt conventional energy plant has been set up in DCK. Apart from this, to meet the ever-growing energy demands, a solar energy park spread over 64 acres of land has been initiated. Also, the construction of a wind energy park is also underway. The Solar Project utilizes the abundant sunshine that is available, by using smart grid integrated technology to generate electricity. Solar panels have been placed in a tree like structure for dual purposes; to extract maximum sunlight and also providing shade for parked vehicles. Initially, a Pilot Project of 1.1 MW has been established to provide electricity to DHA City. Additional modules are being added to the solar project, to further enhance its capacity to 1.5 MW. It has been completed successfully, connected and has also efficiently started supplying electric power to numerous buildings in DCK.

Clinics and Hospitals in DHA City Karachi

DCK has a dedicated healthcare district, covering an area of about 105 acres of land, where leading national and international hospitals will establish their branches. DHA City, Karachi, will also construct their own 1000-bed hospital here. Internationally acclaimed Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital and Research Center will also be established in DCK. It will cover an area of approximately 20 acres. This new cancer treatment facility will have operating rooms, chemotherapy facilities, an ICU, nine clinical departments and one of the biggest oncology centres of the country. Dow University Hospital has started its operations in Sector 3 of DHA City, Karachi, providing top-class medical facilities to residents.

Farmhouses for Sale in DHA City Karachi

DHA City Karachi has a number of farmhouses up for sale in area sizes ranging from 2000 to 2500 sq. yd. These units have been constructed in accordance with international standards, comprising 3-4 bedrooms with attached washrooms, a servant’s quarter and a garage. These farmhouses come with a three-tier security system, consisting of guarded boundaries, a security staff and CCTV cameras. Round-the-clock maintenance services are also provided. Prices for farmhouses range between PKR 70 lakh and PKR 8.2 crore.

Commercial Properties

There are commercial plots available on sale in DCK in different area sizes, including 200 sq yd, 500 sq yd, 1000 sq yd and 2000 sq yd. There is going to be a dedicated commercial district within DCK, where a wide range of amenities will be provided to help your businesses grow and prosper.

Most Popular Sector in DHA City Karachi

Most popular sectors for buying property in DHA City Karachi

The most popular sector in DHA City Karachi is Sector 6. As the prices are going up, investors are increasingly buying land here for better returns on investment.

LIFESTYLE

SHOPPING, RESTAURANTS AND BAKERIES

Malls in DHA City Karachi

DHA City has an extensive mall zone. There are six zones that will have malls, showcasing local and international brands, in the near future. Mall Zone 1 is spread over 14.8 acres, Mall Zone 2 is spread over 22.8 acres, Mall Zone 3 over 25.3 acres, Mall Zone 4 over 12 acres, Mall Zone 5 over 35.7 acres and Mall Zone 6 over 20 acres

Restaurants AND Bakeries in DHA City Karachi

One can find a number of restaurants located alongside M-9. Madina Hotel is a famous restaurant, situated 26 min drive away from DCK. Burraq restaurant, KFC, Al Jeddah restaurant are other popular eateries dotted across the motorway. Once people start living in DCK, there will be many food outlets and eateries on the premises of the society.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, FITNESS AND BEAUTY

Sports Facilities and Fitness Centres in DHA City Karachi

The management of DHA City Karachi wants to make this community a paradise for sports lovers. Plans are underway to construct large stadiums, squash, table tennis courts on a big scale. Moreover, smaller playgrounds will also be constructed in sub-sectors, keeping in mind the convenience and comfort of residents. There is a DCK basketball court, which has a day and night facility for players. A DCK golf resort will also be established, for people who enjoy the sport. A sports arena is also included in the layout, comprising lawn tennis, courts for basketball and futsal and an outdoor gymnasium. For fitness enthusiasts, regular sporting events take place within DCK. A cycling event was organized with much fanfare, during which around 70 cyclists traversed the 20 km cycling track in DCK, passing through different boulevards, bridges and grounds in the area.

Parks in DHA City Karachi

DHA City Karachi has two theme parks in its plan, both on the northern and southern sides. It will have thrilling water slides, exciting roller coaster rides, live shows and various entertainment options for kids. Lake View Parks will also be built here. The lake is spread over 13 acres and the park covers an area of 55 acres. Apart from these, a zoo and bird park will also be a part of DCK’s layout plan. The administration has put in a lot of effort to beautify the roundabouts, walkways, medians and boulevards of the society with beautiful flowers.

NEARBY AREAS

DHA City, Karachi is close to Bahria Town, Karachi. It only take 38 minutes to reach Bahria Town. Future residents of DCK will have access to the amenities provided by Bahria Town as well. Danzoo wild-life safari park, theme parks, restaurants and numerous other facilities will be easily accessible for people living in DCK.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

DHA City, Karachi, aims to provide a comfortable lifestyle and offer the highest quality of living. Although it is located on the outskirts of the city, people will have almost all essential amenities at their disposal. However, it is important to note that people living in DCK, like those living in a lot of other neighbourhoods of Karachi, could suffer water shortages. Due to tubewells operating in nearby areas, the underground water level has gone down. DCK has taken this into consideration and has built five check dams to accumulate rainwater. This will, hopefully, solve any water scarcity-related issues, making DCK a promising housing project for many homebuyers.